JC SANTOS is identified with romantic dramas where he almost always ends up crying, just like in his most recent film, “More Than Blue”.
That’s why he welcomes doing an action packed project like “Adarna Gang”, which is loosely based by writer-director Jon Red on the classic legend of the Ibong Adarna.
“Nakakatuwa, kasi I did ‘Ibong Adarna’ as a full length play on stage some years ago and I played the role of Juan,” he says.
“Now, in the movie, I’m also playing the same role, pero siempre, this is a different take. But yung basic story of three brothers looking for the bird Adarna, ganun pa rin.
"Ang brothers ko rito are sina Mark Anthony Fernandez as Pedro and Diego Loyzaga as Diego, with Coleen Garcia as Adriana. But we’re not looking for her to rescue her kundi para patayin siya, kasi yun ang utos ng father naming si Ronnie Lazaro.
"Our dad kasi killed Coleen’s father and she’s now out for revenge and has vowed to kill all of our family, so kailangang maunahan namin siya.”
He’s been doing one project after another. Doesn’t he get confused playing so many characters?
“What I do is sobrang paulit-ulit na pagbabasa ng script when I have a new project, para mas maintindihan ko yung bago kong role at maiwala ko sa system ko yung character that I played before. I read it more than ten times.
"Kailangan, you make sure na iba-iba ang portrayal sa characters that are assigned to you.”
He has a very demanding role.
“Lahat ng members ng cast dito nakaeksena ko. Hindi lang sina Coleen, Mark Anthony and Diego, but the senior stars, including Tito Ronnie Lazaro, Shamaine Buencamino as our mom, Rico Soliman and Mickey Ferriols as the parents of Coleen, plus Jay Manalo and Dido de la paz.
"Nakaka-pressure ang buong cast kasi puro magagaling sila, all great actors. But it’s nice kasi nakaka-challenge din for you to give your best. You have to step up, but I enjoyed the whole thing.”
How’s Coleen as their leading lady?
“First time ko working with Coleen and at first, nahihiya ako sa kanya. Akala ko kasi, aloof or masungit, pero hindi naman pala. She’s very good in her role as the vengeful Adriana.”
It’s also his first time to work with Direk Jon Red.
“It’s quite an experience kasi nga I played Don Juan before sa isang play so I already got his psyche. Siya yung tipo ng taong may slow burn before he can make the right decisions.
"But si Direk, he added his own interpretation para mas tumibay yung character for me and it really worked well on screen,”
How is it being a first time father?
“I would say na hiyang ako sa pagiging daddy kasi nae-enjoy ko siya every day,” he says with a laugh. “I just love watching my daughter, her name is River, grow.
"They say when you become a father, mawawala na raw yung freedom mo, but ako, nae-enjoy ko watching the new little discoveries I see in her habang lumalaki siya.”
Having his own child is really a great new adventure for him. “
Kasi nakikita mo rin ‘yung pag-develop ng personality niya and you can feel na magiging maayos siya paglaki niya. I also enjoy having a baby ngayong pandemic kasi it’s so much fun.
"You don’t really need to go out anymore. Ansarap ng nasa bahay ka lang with your family. Kung wala sila, baka nabaliw na ako. Iba talaga yung may kausap ka at pinagkakaabalahan ka sa buhay mo.”
